Converting a char to an int

[michail]

Hi again.
I have a method to convert a char to an int [for a chess game] but it prints out this when I do the check:

Enter current position:
a2
The position is:
Pos@bf32c (which changes each time I compile)

Some of the braces I left out deliberately, the input are the coordinates
My code is:

chess class

 

Pos curPos;
       
        do
        {
            System.out.println("Enter current position ");
            String curSquare = sc.nextLine();
            curPos = Pieces.squareToPos(curSquare);
        }
        while (curPos == null);
        
        System.out.println(" "+curPos);

Pos class

public class Pos
               public int x; 
               public int y; 
               public Pos(int x, int y) 
               { 
                   this.x = x; 
                   this.y = y; 
               }

the method in the pieces class

public static  Pos squareToPos(String square) 
          { 
              int x = -1; 
              int y = -1; 
              char col;
              char row;
              
              row = square.charAt(0); 
              if (row == 'a') x = 0; 
              if (row == 'b') x = 1; 
              if (row == 'c') x = 2; 
              if (row == 'd') x = 3; 
              if (row == 'e') x = 4; 
              if (row == 'f') x = 5; 
              if (row == 'g') x = 6; 
              if (row == 'h') x = 7; 
              
              col = square.charAt(1); 
              if (col == '1') y = 0; 
              if (col == '2') y = 1; 
              if (col == '3') y = 2; 
              if (col == '4') y = 3; 
              if (col == '5') y = 4; 
              if (col == '6') y = 5; 
              if (col == '7') y = 6; 
              if (col == '8') y = 7; 
              if (x == -1 || y == -1) 
              { 
                  return null; 
                } 
                else 
                return new Pos(x, y); 
            }

Thanks for answering

[pbrockway2]

System.out.println(" "+curPos);

The string concatenation (+) causes the toString() of the Pos class method to be called for curPos. This method returns a string and the default behaviour (which it inherits from the Object class) is to return a string like "Pos@bf32c".

If you want to see something else you should override toString() to do something else:

public String toString() 
{
    return String.format("(%d,%d)", x, y);
}

[michail]

I didn't understand how to override the toString()

[pbrockway2]

Just put the method I posted into the Pos class.

We call this "overriding" because the method will take the place of the toString() method that the Pos class already has because it is a sort of Object.

[gcampton]

the 'Pos@bf32c' is just the address of the memory location of the object, when we override the toString() and make our own, telling it we want to see output for something such as an int value, or such. Then it prints out the value we want instead of the memory location. As you start to learn about inheritence this will make more sense.

[michail]

It's confusing. The Pos class doesn't have a toString()
At the moment I have a curPos which is the coordinate 'a3' typed in by the player.
I found the

public static String format(String format,
Object... args)

but I don't know how to use it. I think that if I get that I will move fwd.

[Fubarable]

It's confusing. The Pos class doesn't have a toString()

Actually, yes, it does. All classes have a default toString() that returns a String representation of something similar to an object's memory position.

To make toString more functional, override it yourself and have it output a String that makes sense.

Much luck!

[michail]

Brilliant!!
For input: b1
Result: (1,0)
However in the 8x8 array shouldn't the 1 from "b1" be 1? Maybe not

Thanks to all. I will be posting more though!!

chess class

do
        {
            System.out.println("Enter current position ");
            String curSquare = sc.nextLine();
            curPos = Pieces.squareToPos(curSquare);
            
        }
        while (curPos == null);
        
        System.out.println(curPos.toString());    //changed this

Pos class (I added this)

  
              public String toString() 
              {
                  return String.format("(%d,%d)", x, y);
              }

[pbrockway2]

For input: b1
Result: (1,0)
However...

b1 --> (1,0) looks OK to me. The squareToPos() method is "zero based" - starts from zero. So for example a column of '1' results in the first y value: a value of zero.

if (col == '1') y = 0;

[michail]

I am completely stuck now. As I go on it gets complicated. I need to do sth with the coordinates. I have x and y, how do I send it to a method so I can move a piece.

[michail]

I have tried this but the error says I cannot access a non static method from a static context.
[the pos class is above]

Trying to send this

System.out.println("Enter name of piece ");
        String piece = sc.nextLine();
     //ask for moves  
     // maybe look for a particular type of input from the user, sc.nextInt(); 
     //looks for integer inputs though unless the input is integer you will get errors
        do
        {
            System.out.println("Enter current position ");
            String curSquare = sc.nextLine();
            curPos = Pieces.squareToPos(curSquare); //is this right?
            [B]Pos.x = Move.getSourceRow();[/B]
            //ask for moves
            System.out.println("Enter destination ");
            String desSquare = sc.nextLine();
            desPos = Pieces.squareToPos(desSquare); //need two input methods?
            
        }
        while (curPos == null);

to here

MOVE CLASS

public class Move  
 {
     
 public int sourceRow, sourceCol;
 public int destRow, destCol;
     
    public Move(int fromRow, int fromCol, int toRow, int toCol)
 
 
               { 
                 sourceRow = fromRow;
                 sourceCol = fromCol;
                 destRow = toRow;
                 destCol = toCol;
                   
               }
               
               public void setFromRow(int fromx)
               {
                    sourceRow = fromx;
               }
               
               	/** Returns the source row. */
	public int getSourceRow()
	{
		return sourceRow;
	}
	
	/** Returns the source column. */
	public int getSourceCol()
	{
		return sourceCol;
	}
	
	/** Returns the destination row. */
	public int getDestRow()
	{
		return destRow;
	}
	
	/** Returns the destination column. */
	public int getDestCol()
	{
		return destCol;
	}
        
        
	
	/** Sets the source square. */
	public void setSource(int sourceRow, int sourceCol)
	{
	}
	
	/** Sets the destination square. */
	public void setDestination(int destRow,  int destCol)
	{
	}
               
               
               
               
   /* public void makeMove(int fromRow, int fromCol, int toRow, int toCol) 
    
            {
                Baseboard[toRow][toCol] = board[fromRow][fromCol]; // Move the piece.
                Baseboard[fromRow][fromCol] = null;
            }*/
        }